While the discovery of horse meat in beef products provoked outrage and churned stomachs on both sides of the Atlantic, a New Mexico company is counting on US consumers to intentionally purchase the equine meat. The Valley Meat Company says it plans to begin slaughtering horses for meat next Monday, in spite of protests, lawsuits and—earlier this week—an arson attack that damaged five refrigeration units.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/new-mexico-slaughter-house-will-begin-killing-horses-for-meat-next-week/feed/2‘Pink Slime’ Maker’s Suit Against ABC News is Becoming a Landmark Defamation Casehttp://inhabitat.com/pink-slime-makers-case-against-abc-is-becoming-a-landmark-defamation-case/
http://inhabitat.com/pink-slime-makers-case-against-abc-is-becoming-a-landmark-defamation-case/#commentsThu, 07 Mar 2013 22:44:51 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=489532Photo via Shutterstock
After ABC News ran a series last year that gave Beef Products Inc.'s 'lean finely textured beef' the unflattering moniker 'pink slime,' the story went viral. Blogs and newspapers all over the world spread the message about the mixture]]>
Photo via Shutterstock

After ABC News ran a series last year that gave Beef Products Inc.’s ‘lean finely textured beef’ the unflattering moniker ‘pink slime,’ the story went viral. Blogs and newspapers all over the world spread the message about the mixture containing chunks of beef, trimmings and ammonium hydroxide (to kill E.coli and other harmful contaminants) that was regularly used in hamburgers, taco meat and other beef products. As a result, BPI’s annual revenue shrank from $650 million to $130 million. So BPI hired the best lawyer they could find now they’re suing ABC News, anchor Diane Sawyer and a host of others in a $1.2 billion suit that Reuters says is shaking out to be one of the biggest defamation cases in US history.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/pink-slime-makers-case-against-abc-is-becoming-a-landmark-defamation-case/feed/06 Incredibly Disgusting Additives Found in Everyday Foodshttp://inhabitat.com/6-incredibly-disgusting-additives-in-found-in-everyday-foods/
http://inhabitat.com/6-incredibly-disgusting-additives-in-found-in-everyday-foods/#commentsSat, 23 Feb 2013 16:48:20 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=486331The recent scandal over horse meat found in "beef" products in the UK has sent a wave of disgust and panic through the country and beyond — while last year's uncovering of the true ingredients in pink slime caused some in the US to reconsider their meat-eating]]>

The recent scandal over horse meat found in “beef” products in the UK has sent a wave of disgust and panic through the country and beyond — while last year’s uncovering of the true ingredients in pink slime caused some in the US to reconsider their meat-eating habits. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to gross ingredients in our everyday foods. From crushed insects, to shellac and a substance derived from an unsettling part of beaver anatomy, there are many disgusting—and commonly used—food additives out there. Read on to learn more about six of the most surprising and gross ingredients in your food.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/6-incredibly-disgusting-additives-in-found-in-everyday-foods/feed/0Ground Beef Sold in UK Supermarkets Found to be Contaminated with Horsemeathttp://inhabitat.com/ground-beef-sold-in-uk-supermarkets-found-to-be-contaminated-with-horsemeat/
http://inhabitat.com/ground-beef-sold-in-uk-supermarkets-found-to-be-contaminated-with-horsemeat/#commentsThu, 17 Jan 2013 22:12:40 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=476631In the United States, finding out that much of the meat served in school lunches contains "pink slime" (second-grade meat treated with ammonia) was a pretty shocking discovery. In the UK, a watchdog organization has discovered the presence of horsemeat and]]>

In the United States, finding out that much of the meat served in school lunches contains “pink slime” (second-grade meat treated with ammonia) was a pretty shocking discovery. In the UK, a watchdog organization has discovered the presence of horsemeat and pig parts in ground beef that is sold to supermarkets. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is poised to conduct an investigation into all beef products sold within the UK after learning of the scandal from Ireland’s Food Safety Authority. On Wednesday, the FSA held emergency meetings with supermarket groups to see the extent to which the supply chain had been compromised.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/ground-beef-sold-in-uk-supermarkets-found-to-be-contaminated-with-horsemeat/feed/0Obama, Congress Pass Bill Lifting Restriction on US Horse Slaughterhttp://inhabitat.com/obama-congress-pass-bill-lifting-restriction-on-us-horse-slaughter/
http://inhabitat.com/obama-congress-pass-bill-lifting-restriction-on-us-horse-slaughter/#commentsWed, 30 Nov 2011 23:41:31 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=329554To the horror of animal rights supporters everywhere, a week before Thanksgiving President Obama signed into law an agricultural spending bill that allows for the restoration of the American horse slaughter industry. Congress was faced with a choice between]]>

To the horror of animal rights supporters everywhere, a week before Thanksgiving President Obama signed into law an agricultural spending bill that allows for the restoration of the American horse slaughter industry. Congress was faced with a choice between lifting the domestic slaughter ban or banning the export of horses for slaughter, and they chose to keep the slaughter on domestic grounds – however there was a reason U.S. plants were closed in the first place. The Humane Society reports that U.S. slaughterhouses have a history of excessive abuse and cruelty, and USDA statistics show that 92 percent of horses slaughtered for meat are “in good condition and able to lead productive lives”. Read on to learn more about this horrific industry – and why we shouldn’t allow it on US soil or support the exportation of horses to foreign slaughterhouses.